Uber has detailed a “landmark vehicle partnership” with BYD’s local distributor EVDirect that sees 10,000 Atto 3 electric SUVs change into available immediately to Uber drivers and delivery people.
These 10,000 BYD Atto 3s can be found through a spread of financing and leasing options. These include long-term financing that ends in full ownership of the vehicle, in addition to a versatile ownership arrangement with the choice to return the vehicle after a minimum term.
More flexible rental and ownership offerings can be detailed and change into available in early 2024.
“Two-thirds of drivers have told us they intend to make the switch to an EV, however the primary barrier to doing so is the upfront cost of the automotive,” said Uber Australia and Latest Zealand general manager Dom Taylor.
“Through our recent partnership with EVDirect, we’re addressing that challenge head-on.
“Our goal is to supply drivers and delivery people a spread of flexible options that make it easier than ever to get behind the wheel of an EV.”
As well as, Uber claims adoption of EVs on its platform in Victoria has been “slower than hoped”.
To assist rectify this, the ride-share company has announced an extra 500 places in its Service Fee Reduction program, exclusively for Victorian drivers.
From November 1, the chosen Victorian drivers who complete trips on the Uber platform could have their service fees reduced by 50 per cent, as much as $3500 per financial 12 months, through to June 2025.
The corporate has also launched its first all-electric ride-share option, Comfort Electric, exclusively to Uber for Business customers.
Comfort Electric allows Uber for Business customers to ride in a “premium” EV with highly rated drivers “suitable for business travel”.
It’s available now for Uber for Business customers across Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and Adelaide.
Comfort Electric follows the introduction of Uber Green earlier this 12 months which allows riders to decide on a hybrid or EV. It’s the identical price as a regular UberX.
Uber has previously said it’s planning to go all-electric from 2030 in certain markets including the USA, Canada and Europe. This is a component of a wider, overarching goal of becoming a zero-emissions company by 2040.
Within the third quarter of 2023 alone, greater than 1.2 million Uber riders were taken in an EV. In the identical period, greater than 2400 EVs operated on the Uber platform.
A survey conducted by Uber in 2021 said almost 60 per cent of its drivers were trying to go electric by 2026, but provided that it might be made less expensive.
Mr Taylor said last 12 months the corporate will “lose money” on every ride with half-price service fees, but believes “the advantages” of swathes of the corporate’s fleet moving to electric power “can be value it”.
This Article First Appeared At www.carexpert.com.au
